FM CB Channels / Frequencies 11 Meter US FM Calling Channels

[R4002]

Now that FM mode is legal in the USA for CB purposes.  Is FM CB legal in the USA?  Yes, it is. 

I fully support designating in-band and out-of-band calling channels.  26.805 FM and 27.600 FM.  Legal CB Channels 27 FM, 29 FM, 30 FM and 31 FM.  27.600 MHz FM is right next to UK FM CB Channel 1 - 27.601 FM or 27.60125 MHz FM. 

26.805 MHz FM is already in use, as is 27.600 MHz FM. 

So 26.805 FM and 27.600 FM.  In-band CB channels 27, 29 and 31 - 27.275 MHz FM, 27.295 MHz FM and 27.315 MHz FM. 

FM CB Working Channels

26.805 MHz FM 26.805 FM 26805 FM - The original 26 MHz freeband 11m FM calling channel (USA)
27.295 MHz - 27.295 FM - CB Channel 29 FM - FM CB Radio Trucker Channel
27.275 MHz - 27.275 FM - CB Channel 27 FM - USA FM CB Radio Working Channel
27.315 MHz - 27.315 FM - CB Channel 31 FM - FM CB Radio Calling and Working Channel
27.305 MHz - 27.305 FM - CB Channel 30 FM - FM CB Radio Calling and Working Channel
27.600 MHz FM 27.600 FM 27600 FM - 11m freeband CB FM Calling 27.6 MHz FM 27.600 FM
27.650 MHz FM 27.650 FM 27650 FM - 11m freeband CB FM Calling 27.65 MHz FM 27.650 FM
27.575 MHz FM 27.575 FM 27575 FM - 11m freeband CB FM Calling 27.575 MHz FM 27.575 FM


Note:  Channel 27 (27.275 MHz) is used for SSB calling in the UK, specifically 27.275 USB (CB Channel 27 USB). 

European FM CB DX channels are


27.305 MHz FM 27.305 FM - CB Channel 30 FM
27.315 MHz FM 27.315 FM - CB Channel 31 FM
26.565 MHz FM 26.565 FM - German 80 Channel CB Channel 41
27.601 MHz FM 27.601 FM 27.60125 MHz FM 27.60125 FM - UK FM CB Channel 1 - will work with 27.600 FM!
27.781 MHz FM 27.781 FM 27.78125 MHz FM 27.78125 FM - UK FM CB Channel 19
27.971 MHz FM 27.971 FM 27.97125 MHz FM 27.97125 FM - UK FM CB Channel 38
27.981 MHz FM 27.981 FM 27.98125 MHz FM 27.98125 FM - UK FM CB Channel 39
27.991 MHz FM 27.991 FM 27.99125 MHz FM 27.99125 FM - UK FM CB Channel 40
27.125 MHz FM 27.125 FM - also used for AM calling in Europe CB Channel 14

[Elf36]

I would have never even thought about trying FM between 26 - 28 Mhz, had you not posted those freqs. I wouldn't say it's better than SSB, but hey it's something new and it works OR, ID and AZ on FM made me a believer. With good conditions anyway.

[R4002]

I would have never even thought about trying FM between 26 - 28 Mhz, had you not posted those freqs. I wouldn't say it's better than SSB, but hey it's something new and it works OR, ID and AZ on FM made me a believer. With good conditions anyway.

With good conditions it's a winner.  I think 27.600 MHz FM and 27.650 MHz FM are easy enough to remember, plus there's already a group of guys using 26.805 MHz FM.

Another op I know here in Virginia heard a guy in Texas running FM on 27.285 MHz yesterday during the tail end of the band opening...that's right, FM on CB channel 28!

[R4002]

FM activity on 26.805 MHz right now (1453 UTC)

[ChrisSmolinski]

1456 26805 OM in Texas, good signal

[R4002]

1456 26805 OM in Texas, good signal

27255 (Channel 23 - 27.255 MHz) is 26.805 MHz up one band - I've noticed several FM voice transmissions on 27.255 MHz (mixing in with the AM voice transmissions and data bursts now that the band is open).

Channel 23 up one band is 27.705 - wouldn't surprise me if we started noticing FM activity on 26.805 MHz, 27.255 MHz and 27.705 MHz.

I still think designating channels 27 27.275 MHz for FM CB use as well as channel 31 27.315 MHz FM for FM CB use makes more sense than using 27.255 (channel 23). 

[Elf36]

I was thinking the other day about how AM/FM - CB/Export/Free band radios have been around for a long time. Particularly brands such as Galaxy, Mirage among others. No one ever talked about using FM though. I guess they just bought them because the radios sounded better etc. I never understood spending that kind of money for a radio without sideband. Just my opinion. Was FM more popular in other countries between 25 - 27.999 Mhz ? Years ago when I was heavy into that frequency range, I would have never even thought about it.

[R4002]

I was thinking the other day about how AM/FM - CB/Export/Free band radios have been around for a long time. Particularly brands such as Galaxy, Mirage among others. No one ever talked about using FM though. I guess they just bought them because the radios sounded better etc. I never understood spending that kind of money for a radio without sideband. Just my opinion. Was FM more popular in other countries between 25 - 27.999 Mhz ? Years ago when I was heavy into that frequency range, I would have never even thought about it.

Outside of the Americas and Australia/New Zealand, almost everywhere else that has a CB band allows use of FM.  Some countries allow only FM (for a long time the UK only permitted FM...they only recently legalized AM and SSB on the European standard CEPT 40 channels - the same channel plan as the USA channels or the "FCC CB channels" - often called "mid band CB").  The 40 UK-only 27/81 channels - UK FM CB 27.60125 MHz - 27.99125 MHz in 10 kHz steps - is still, and will probably remain FM only.

The German, Hungarian, Czech, etc. "auxiliary" channels (26.565 MHz - 26.955 MHz in 10 kHz steps) are also FM mode only.  The European standard CB band is the same as the US CB band but is FM only.  Many countries permit use of AM and SSB as well as FM...now that the US permits FM it has come full circle.

As far as the AM/FM exports go, I agree.  Those radios have had FM mode since the 1980s, which makes sense if you're using them in Europe you'd need FM.  But until now, I'm sure 99% of the folks using those radios never touched the mode switch (unless its one of the more expensive AM/FM/SSB export rigs).  I know some of the exports sold are actually AM mode only but the vast majority of them are AM/FM.  I think people bought them more because they have additional channels and higher power output instead of because they have FM mode.

Now people might buy them for all those reasons plus the fact that they have FM mode as well.  I've found at least one guy selling FM boards to add to your AM only 40-channel CB rig as a modification to turn your 40 channel AM CB radio into a 40 channel AM and 40 channel FM CB radio. 

[Elf36]

Yes. I imagine the extra channels was a big factor.

[R4002]

The prototypical AM/FM export rigs - those made by Ranger/RCI - including the Superstar 3000, Connex 3300 series, Mirage MX36HP and similar, Galaxy DX29, DX33, DX44, DX55 series, DX66, DX66V2, DX66V3, General Lee, General HP40W, Superstar 121, Connex Deer Hunter, Connex Coyote Hunter, etc. etc. were/all AM/FM only.  The vast majority of those rigs cover the same 6-band A-B-C-D-E-F selector + 40 channel selector channel plan (frequency coverage 25.615 MHz to 28.305 MHz, with Band D being the legal CB band). 

There are some variants on that, including rigs like the Superstar 121 (which simply has a 3 position LOW/MID/HIGH band switch - with the legal CB band being MID band, coverage 26.515-27.855 MHz) and the obviously geared towards the hunting truck guys radios like the Connex Deer Hunter (3 bands, but coverage is 26.065-27.405 MHz and the band select is labeled B/C/D instead) or the Connex Coyote Hunter (4 bands, coverage 25.615-27.405 MHz - A/B/C/D bands).  I've talked to several hunters who use rigs like the Galaxy DX66, Connex 3300, Superstar 3000, etc. and they all use/used the lower bands (so bands A/B/C - 25.615-26.955 MHz), use AM mode and run their radios with amplifiers. 

Many hunting clubs are migrating to licensed business radio + export CB equipment (at least in my area).  So the standard hunting truck has two communications antennas - a CB antenna and (usually) a VHF high band antenna.  Most of them use hunting dogs with GPS radio collars (and the radio collars use the MURS frequencies).  Hunting outfitters sell VHF mag mount antennas to extend the range of the GPS dog collar's companion receiver so it is not uncommon to see hunting trucks with a CB antenna and 2, 3 or even 4 VHF antennas.  Often the hunters will use export CB rigs to communicate while their dogs track (and they watch their dogs' GPS signals on the receivers in their trucks).  Many guys, especially in the more rural areas, also use the VHF marine band in addition to export CB radios.  The "standard" setup is often an export rig (with at least access to the "lowers" or "low channels", an amplifier and additional VHF gear.  I've seen local hunting trucks with Texas Star DX350 DX500 or DX667 and RM Italy KL503s and other amplifiers so output power on 11m is pushing way past 100 watts. 

Of course, they're still using AM mode...even though almost all their radios have FM capability.  It seems like AM is used for simplicity's sake (backward compatibility with guys who have regular "street legal" 40 channel CB rigs and other CBers...)

That might be changing now too though...

[R4002]

Hearing South Texas, California and other stations right now - 1556 UTC anyway on 26805 FM - 26.805 MHz FM.  Strong station in TX talking about having to QSY from 27.555 USB and 27.385 LSB due to heavy QRM.  Very good signals at points.

FM is alive and well! 

[Exo]

There's a lot of truckers using Channel 29 FM 27295 kHz.

[R4002]

There's a lot of truckers using Channel 29 FM 27295 kHz.

Have they been using FM on Channel 29 for a while now?  Or is CB channel 29 FM a new thing like 26.805 MHz FM? 

I kinda like it - CB Channel 19 AM, Channel 29 FM.  Makes sense to use 27.295 MHz (channels 27 and 31 also make sense - in-between the "big radio" channels 26/28 27.265 MHz AM and 27.285 MHz AM) for FM CB. 

Glad to see the surprisingly rapid adoption of FM. Since there's a vast installed equipment base capable of FM mode already out "in the field" the switchover from AM/SSB to AM/FM/SSB CB radio / 11 meters is already happening. 

For short range comms, FM provides superior audio quality and rejection of noise/static.  When dealing with weaker signals, AM has some advantages but SSB is the obvious winner in those situations.

I had included 27.315 FM CB channel 31 - 27.315 MHz FM as the FM CB calling channel since CB channel 31 FM is one of the European in-band FM calling channels, I would call it the European version of 27.385 LSB channel 38 LSB but for FM mode specifically and for calling specifically. FM is the "default" mode for CB in many European countries so the situation is reversed. 

In the UK, for example, AM has only been legal on the FCC 40 CB channels or mid band CB or CEPT/EU standard 26.965-27.405 MHz band for the past 10-15 years.  SSB was legalized even later.  On the UK specific UK FM CB 27/81 channels 27.60125 MHz - 27.99125 MHz, FM is the only mode permitted and that probably won't change. 

Most European countries permit AM on the standard 40 CB channels in addition to FM (and most of those allow SSB as well) but this is somewhat recent of a development.  Now basically all CB rigs sold in Europe are AM/FM at least.  In many ways, the FCC legalizing FM on CB is sort of things coming "full circle".  AM will still be the standard mode for US CB radio - SSB and FM are now the extra-feature modes but I can see FM-capable FCC approved CB equipment entering the US market rapidly.

[Exo]

It appears from their chatter that some truckers may be trying to claim CB Channel 29 as their new "trucker FM channel".
Perhaps that's just local to the west coast.
Also heard weak signals, distinctively FM activity, on 27295.0 when the skip was in to the plains states earlier today.

There's a lot of truckers using Channel 29 FM 27295 kHz.

Have they been using FM on Channel 29 for a while now?  Or is CB channel 29 FM a new thing like 26.805 MHz FM? 

I kinda like it - CB Channel 19 AM, Channel 29 FM.  Makes sense to use 27.295 MHz (channels 27 and 31 also make sense - in-between the "big radio" channels 26/28 27.265 MHz AM and 27.285 MHz AM) for FM CB. 

Glad to see the surprisingly rapid adoption of FM. Since there's a vast installed equipment base capable of FM mode already out "in the field" the switchover from AM/SSB to AM/FM/SSB CB radio / 11 meters is already happening. 

For short range comms, FM provides superior audio quality and rejection of noise/static.  When dealing with weaker signals, AM has some advantages but SSB is the obvious winner in those situations.

I had included 27.315 FM CB channel 31 - 27.315 MHz FM as the FM CB calling channel since CB channel 31 FM is one of the European in-band FM calling channels, I would call it the European version of 27.385 LSB channel 38 LSB but for FM mode specifically and for calling specifically. FM is the "default" mode for CB in many European countries so the situation is reversed. 

In the UK, for example, AM has only been legal on the FCC 40 CB channels or mid band CB or CEPT/EU standard 26.965-27.405 MHz band for the past 10-15 years.  SSB was legalized even later.  On the UK specific UK FM CB 27/81 channels 27.60125 MHz - 27.99125 MHz, FM is the only mode permitted and that probably won't change. 

Most European countries permit AM on the standard 40 CB channels in addition to FM (and most of those allow SSB as well) but this is somewhat recent of a development.  Now basically all CB rigs sold in Europe are AM/FM at least.  In many ways, the FCC legalizing FM on CB is sort of things coming "full circle".  AM will still be the standard mode for US CB radio - SSB and FM are now the extra-feature modes but I can see FM-capable FCC approved CB equipment entering the US market rapidly.

[R4002]

It appears from their chatter that some truckers may be trying to claim CB Channel 29 as their new "trucker FM channel".
Perhaps that's just local to the west coast.
Also heard weak signals, distinctively FM activity, on 27295.0 when the skip was in to the plains states earlier today.

That makes sense though.  Do they still use channel 17 and channel 21 on the West Coast in addition to 19?  Here on the East Coast its 19 but I could see Channel 29 FM as the trucker FM channel being adopted nationwide relatively quickly. 

Goes to show how many trucks are equipped with export rigs with AM and FM capability.  They've likely just never had a reason to flip that mode switch from AM to FM.  Looking at pictures of the Connex 3300, General Lee, General HP40W (a General Lee with an amplifier on the bottom), Connex CX33HPC1, the Stryker radios, the Superstar 3000, Superstar 121, most of the Galaxy rigs, etc. - most of them have AM/FM/PA as a three-position knob or AM/FM switch as a two-position switch on the front panel.  These guys have had FM capability for a while.

By the way, happy FM is legal on CB day (October 28th, 2021).  See: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-09-28/pdf/2021-19399.pdf   

Changes effective October 28, 2021.  FM emission type F3E is now permitted on the CB Radio Service in the United States.  47 CFR 95.971: 

(a) Permitted emission types. CBRS
transmitter types must transmit AM
voice emission type A3E or SSB voice
emission types J3E, R3E or H3E, and
may also transmit FM voice emission
type F3E.

Maximum bandwidth: 8 kHz
Maximum carrier power: 4 Watts FM
FM deviation shall not exceed +/- 2 kHz 2kHz FM deviation

8K00A3E emission designator for AM voice
8K00F3E emission designator for FM voice
4K00J3E 4K00H3E 4K00R3E emission designators for SSB voice

FM CB radio is now legal!  AM continues to be the standard mode for CB radio in the USA, FM and SSB are optional modes. 

I just updated the first post in this thread to reflect the use of CB channel 29 FM 27.295 MHz FM 27.295 FM as the trucker FM CB channel.